EXOTIC SPECIES (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Env and Eco)

Context: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has mandated that exotic pets listed under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Act be registered with state wildlife departments through the PARIVESH 2.0 portal within 6 months.

Exotic Species

• Definition: Exotic species are animals or plants that are relocated from their natural habitat to a new area, often as a result of human activities.
• Status of Registration: Delhi's forest and wildlife department has officially registered eight exotic species: ball python, iguana, cockatiel, red-eared slider turtle, African grey parrot, Amazonian parrot, blue-headed parrot, and conure.
• Criteria: The Living Animal Species (Reporting and Registration) Rules, 2024, require individuals to report and register any species listed under Schedule IV of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
• Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Act, 2022: This amendment includes Section 49 M, which mandates the registration of possession, transfer, birth, and death of species listed in the CITES Appendices and Schedule IV of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.

Concerns with Exotic Species

• Non-Regulation: Many exotic species are imported and bred in India without proper registration, leading to potential risks such as zoonotic diseases.
• Pandemic Risk: The COVID-19 pandemic, being zoonotic, underscored the dangers associated with the unregulated trade and ownership of exotic animals.
• Smuggling Concerns: There is growing concern over the smuggling of endangered exotic animals into India, particularly from Southeast Asia. Significant seizures, including Kangaroos, Koalas, and Lemurs, have been reported in Assam and Mizoram.

PARIVESH 2.0 Portal

• Acronym: PARIVESH stands for Pro-Active and Responsive facilitation by Interactive, Virtuous, and Environmental Single Window Hub.
• Developed By: The portal was developed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• Functionality: PARIVESH 2.0 is a web-based application that provides a single-window solution for online submission and monitoring of proposals related to environmental, forest, wildlife, and coastal regulation zone clearances.
• Platform Focus: The platform focuses on process transformation, technology integration, and leveraging domain expertise to manage green clearances and ensure compliance across India.